Electrical receptacle.



No. 745,173. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. P. H. FIELDING.

ELBGTRIGAL REGEPTAGLR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1902 NO MODEL.

Patented November 24, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

PHILIP H. FIELDING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,173, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed May 29, 1902. Serial No. 109,463. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. FIELDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Receptacles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.-

Thisinventionrelates to incandescent lamp sockets and receptacles, the object being to produce a weatherproof device of this character wherein the various contacts and metal parts are protected from moisture. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with means for the ready connection to it of the main wires of a circuit without removing the insulation therefrom and without splicing, this feature of my invention relating as well to rosettes, ceiling-blocks, and other similar electrical appliances.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a lamp-receptacle constructed according to my invention and provided with my improved device. Fi g. 2 is a perspective view, with a part broken away, of the base of the receptacle; and Fig. 3 is a plan of a packing-sheet used in connection with the receptacle.

The receptacle illustrated consists of an elongated base-block A, having formed across its ends, respectively, two grooves a. At the center of the upper surface of the block is secured a lamp-socket consisting of athreaded shell I), which, however, may be substituted by a shell Withoutthreads, constructed in accordance with the ordinary commercial types of lamps and sockets. Extending inward from the end grooves a are the lateral grooves c, in each of which is a metal plate 01 d, respectively, one of them being electrically connected with the shell 1) and the other carrying the post d which is exposed in the center of the bottom of the shell, but insulated therefrom. The post and the shell are the two terminals of the electric circuit, with which corresponding parts of the lamp B connect when the lamp is inserted, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to connect the plates or strips d d to the main conductors of the circuit and to accomplish the operation quickly, I attach to the outer end of each plate a brad or spur e, pointing upward and located in the middle line of the groove a. The conductin g-wiref, which is usually covered by a puncturable insulating material, is then connected with the plate by passing it along the groove and then pressing it against the brad until the latter punctures the insulation and enters into contact With the metallic conductor inside thereof. As the groove a is substantially the same size as the covered conductor, the latter will be guided while under pressure so that the brad will penetrate accurately to its core. This form of connection is desirable and permissible for temporary wiring-as, for instance, in decorating-and it will be seen that it affords a ready, cheap, and efficient connector.

The receptacle is ordinarily covered by a cap-piece O, of porcelain or other insulating material, which embodies a cylindrical portion 0 at'the middle, embracing the shell I), and end portions or cars 0 which cover the grooves a in the base part A.

In order to exclude moisture from the receptacle, I provide a sheet of soft rubber or other packing and insulating material g, having the outline of the face of the base and adapted to be applied thereto and clamped between the cap 0 and the base. This sheet extends over the grooves o and is provided with a central opening, permitting it to be passed over the shell 1). When this packing is located as described, moisture is prevented from entering the joint between the cap and the base.

To pack the opening through which the lamp enters the receptacle, I provide a softrubber collar 1' in the shape of a short cylinder having a heavy bead z" around one edge and of a diameter when not under tension considerably less than the diameter of the shell I). This collar is stretched over the outer end of the shell I) in such a position that the head will rest just below the edge of the shell, forming an inwardly-turned flange or lip across the opening through which the lamp-neck is to be thrust. When the lamp is inserted in the receptacle and screwed into place, it distends the collar and causes it to creep upward upon the neck of the lamp and hug it tightly while in place, as shown in Fig. 1.

The colfl the joint between the neck of the lamp and the shell Z). The porcelain cap C is formed internally to accommodate the bead 2" on the collar, an annular portion being cut away to allow the cap to pass over the bead and forming a shoulder j, which presses against the bead, the bearing-surfaces thereby excluding moisture from the space between the shell I) and the cap. It is obvious that this rubber collar is serviceable upon ordinary lampsockets and that my invention extends to the use of this device thereon.

The cap 0 is secured to the base and the entire receptacle to its support by screws .9, which pass through openings .5" in both parts and also through the packing-sheet g. It will be seen that when the cap is thus secured to the face of the base it effectually holds the wires f on the brads 9, making the connection as permanent as can be desired.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. An electrical appliance for wiring and distribution purposes consisting of a basepiece and means for securing the same to a wall or surface, metallic plates attached to the face of said base-piece and provided with brads upon which electric conductors can be impaled and a cover adapted to hold the impaled conductors in place and means for fastening the cover.

2. An electrical appliance for wiring and distribution purposes consisting of a base of insulating material, having two parallel grooves in its outer face, lamp-holding devices attached to the same face and located between the grooves, metal plates connected with the lamp-holding devices and extending laterally into the respective grooves, brads permanently attached to said plates and located in the grooves and a cover adapted to surround the lamp-holding devices and extend over said grooves.

3. In a lamp-receptacle, the combination of a metallic shell or socket adapted to receive the neck of the lamp, an elastic packing-ring surrounding the outer edge of the shell and having a web portion extending over the edge of the shell and adapted to rest against the neck of the lamp, a shield or cover of insulating material around the shell and having an annular internal shoulder against which the packing-ring rests to prevent it from coming out, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP ll. FIELDING.

\Vitnesses FRANK S. OBER, TALDO M. CHAPIN. 

